Humans Are Unique Super Predators Says Study

The study analysed global data to detail the brutality of human hunting practices and its impact.

A new study has declared human as unique super predators. The study was published in the Science magazine. The study used global data to establish their findings.

The researchers studied data detailing the callousness of human hunting practices. The study also focused on the impact the hunting practices have on the prey.

The study reveals humans consume adult fish at a rate 14 times faster than even marine animals. On land humans hunt top carnivores 9 times more than any other animal.

The top carnivores include some very dangerous hunters themselves such as bears, wolves and lions. Humans solely focus on hunting the adult prey. While in the animal kingdom only the juveniles of a species are preferably hunted.

The lead author of the study is Chris Darimont from the University of Victoria, Canada. Darimont and his colleagues observed humans take down adult prey because it has a minimal cost.

Maximum and short-term rewards are gained by humans through the practice. The focus on adult prey by humans is the reason for endangered species and extinctions. They practice is driving an evolutionary shift towards smaller fish sizes. Thus the food chain on the global level is being disturbed.

Prof Tom Reimchen is also a co-author of the study. The co-author Reimchen came up with an analogy called ‘Reproductive Capital’. The adults of the animal species are also the reproductive capital equivalent to capital protected in the bank.

Humans are eating off the capital rather than the interest from the capital. No wonder the entire species as a result are dying out.